Washing and cementing device for well casings



Sept. 6, 1932. c E, U 1,875,414

WASHING AND CEMENTTNG DEVICE FOR WELL CASINGS Filed Sept. 3, 1950 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Sept. 6, 1932 1 UN-ITEDJHSTATES PATENT OFFICE CLARENCE E. IBURT, OF LOS ANGELES,. CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO BAKER OIL' TOOLS, INC., OF HUNTINGTON PARK, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA WASHING AND DEVICE FOR WELL CASINGS Application filed September 3, 1930. Serial No. 479,501.

This invention relates to apparatus for guiding, floating and cementing casings in oil wells.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide an improved well c'ementing device which may be fitted to the lower end of a well casing and which is capable of use in efficiently washing down the walls of the bore when the casing is being run in and which issl-ikewise efiicient in cementing the casing in place regardless of whether or not the casing 1S placed on bottom or not.

The present invention contemplates the 5 provision of a cementing toolwhich is fitted to the well casing and which is provided with radial cementing ports. The device is also provided with a central discharge passageway at its lower end for washing down purposes. The ports or passageways are controlled by a valve mechanism which prevents the ejection of fluid from within the casing through the radial ports when the casing is being lowered into vthe hole. This enables a good washing down action to be obtained through the lower opening. However, when the lower end of the casing is placed in close proximity to the formation seat or a solid bridge or other obstruction the valve mechanism is automatically actuated to open the side ports to enable the cement to be ejected therethrough. By maintaining the lower end of the casing above the formation seat or obstruction in the well, cementing can be carried on through the lower port. The valve mechanism mentioned also includes a back pressure feature which prevents fluid in the bore from passing into the casing through the cementing device.

One form which the invention may assume is exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through a device involving the preferred form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the same taken on line IIII of Fig. 1.

' ig. 3 is a partial side elevation of the device.

Fig. 4 is a View in elevation of the sliding sleeve with parts broken away to more clearly disclose its construction.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawing, 10 indicates a casing shoe Formed centrally and longitudinally with in the cementitious plug is a cylindrical valve chamber 12. This valve chamber 12 is formed by locating a cylinder 14, formed of bakelite or other suitable material, within the plug during the molding thereof. At the ends of this cylinder it is connected with flat discs 15, likewise of nonmetallic material, which are embedded within the cemen titious plug at their peripheries.

The upper disc 15 is formed with avalve port 16 which aligns with a passageway 17 extending from the valveport 16 through the upper end of the plug. The lower disc 15 is formed with a circular opening 18 which aligns with cylindrical passageway 19 formed in the cementitious plug and extending from the disc 15 through the lower end of the plug. At its lower extremity the passageway 19 1s conical in form as indicated by the numeral 20.

The upper disc 15 is formed with a valve seat 21 about the lower periphery of the port 16. Cooperating with this valve seat 21 is a ball valve 22 which is buoyant in liquid cement or other heavy fluid. The purpose of this ball valve 22 is to preventfluid entering the valve chamber from passing upwardly through the plug into the well casing.

Reciprocably mounted in the valve chamber is a sleeve or slide valve 23 which is preferably formed of nonmetallic friable material. This sleeve valve 23 is formed with a cylindrical passageway 24 extending longitudinally and centrally therethrough. The lower portion of the sleeve valve 23 is reduced in exterior diameter in order that it may reciprocate through the passageway 19 while the larger upper end thereof is of a 'beingpumped from the casing in the valve chamber the lugs 25 prevent the ball valve 22 from interfering with the passage of fluid from the valve chamberthrough the Passageway 24 in the sleeve valve. This sleeve valve 23 is also formed with a plurality of radial ports 26 which are adapted to register with radial passageways 27 formed through the plug and shoe when the sleeve valve 23 is in a predetermined position.

The passageways 27 are formed with nozzles at'their outer ends in the same manner as described and claimed in my copending application entitled Cementing and floating shoe for well casings filed June 25, 1930, Serial Number 463,662.

The downward movement of the sleeve valve 23 is limited by engagement of the shoulder thereon, which shoulder is located between its sections ofdiflerent diameters, and the lower end of the valve chamber while the upward movement of the sleeve valve is limited by engagement of the conical lower end 28 of the sleeve valve with the conical bore 20 at the lower end of the passageway 19.

In order that the sleeve valve will not rotate and move the ports 26 out of register with passageways 27 the exterior surface of the sleeve valve is'formed with a plurality of longitudinal grooves 30 which are spaced apart circumferentially. Projections 31 are secured in the plug and project into the valve 'chamberand into the grooves 30 and prevent the latter from rotating without interfering with its reciprocation.

In operation of the device, it is constructed as described and illustrated and connected with the lower end of a well casing. -When the well casing is lowered in the hole the mud fluids in the .holewill seat the ball valve 22 as described. Hence, the casing will be floated into place and the derrick will be relieved of a portion of the weight of the dial ports such as the passageways 27, but the washing down action must be obtained through ports at the lower terminal of the plug. 7

Should the casing be set on bottom or on a solid bridge, the projecting lower end of the valve will, of course, be moved upwardly and will move the sleeve. valve 23 to its uppermost position as shown in Fig. 1. In this position the ports 26 in the sleeve valve Should the casing be maintained ofl' bot- 1 tom during the cementing operation, the side passageway 26 will be closed and the cement will pass through the lower end of the plug by means of passageway 24 and thence upwardly around the casing.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a well cementing device wherein a perfect washing action may be obtained and wherein the cement may be discharged either through the lower end of the casing or through side ports therein as described. Under certain conditions it is most desirable to eject the cement through side ports while under other conditions it is more desirable to ejlect the cement through the lower end of the p ug.

Prior cementingdevices have been provided with side ports but these devices had the disadvantage that they could not be used for washing down the hole when lowering down the casing. This was a serious disadvantage as it prevented them from being used when it was desirable to wash down the hole.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in thev appended claims.

Having thus describedmy invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described adapted to be connected with a string of well casing, said device comprising a ceinentitious plug having upper and lower aligned passageways and provided with an intermediate valve chamber and having radial ports in its sides, valve means fitted to said device and extending into and exteriorly of said chamber and preventing the discharge of fluid through said side ports from within the casin g until the lower endot' the string comes in close proximity to an obstruction in the well bore and the valve means contacts with such obstruction.

2. A cementing and washing down device for oil wells which is adapted to be connected with and formed as part of a string of well casing, said device comprising a cementitious plug having upper and lower aligned pas sageways and provided with an intermediate valve chamber and having radial ports in its sides and a port at its lower end, valve means fitted to said device and extending into and exteriorly ofsaid chamber and preventing discharge of fluidthrough said side ports from Within the casing until the lower end of the string comes in close proximity to an obstruction in the well boreand the-valve mechanism comes in contact with such obstruction, said valve means unobstructing the port in the lower end of saiddevice whereby fluid may be discharged from within the easing through the lower end of the device while the casing is being lowered in the well bore.

3. A cementing and washing down device for oil wells which is adapted to be connected with and formed as part of a string of well casing, said device comprising a cementitious plug having upper and lower aligned passageways and provided with an intermediate valve chamber and having radial ports in its sides and a port at its lower end, valve means fitted to said device and extending into and exteriorly of said chamber and preventing discharge of fluid through said side ports from within the casing until the lower end of the string comes in close proximity to an obstruction in the well bore and the valve means comes in contact with such obstruction, said valve means unobstructing the port in the lower end of said device whereby fluid may be dischargedfrom within the casing through the lower end of the device while the casing is being lowered in the well bore, said valve means being also provided with a valve for preventing the passage of fluid from the exterior of thecasing to within the casing above said device either through the side or bottom ports.

4. A devicevof the character described comprising a cylindrical member adapted to be connected with a string of well casing, a"

plug of cementitious material connected with said member, said plug having a valve chamber formed interiorly thereof, said plug and cylindrical member being formed with radial passageways extending from said chamber and communicating with the space surrounding the exterior of said cylindrical member, said plug being formed with a passageway extending from said chamber through the lower end of said plug, and having an upper passageway extending from the chamber through the upper portion of the plug, valve means arranged in said chamber and preventing discharge of fluid through I said radial passageways from within the easing until the lower end of said casing comes in close proximity with an obstruction in the well bore and the valve means contacts with such obstruction.

5. A device of the character described comprising a cylindrical member adapted to be connected with a string of well casing, a plug of cementitious material connected with said member, said plug having a valve chamber formed interiorly thereof, said plug and cylindrical member being formed with radial passageways extending from said chamber and communicating with the space surrounding the exterior of said cylindrical member, said plug being formed with a passageway extending .from said chamber through the lower end of said plug, and having an upper passageway extending from the chamber through the upper portion of the plug, valve means in said valve chamber unatfecting the discharge of fluid through the passageway through the lower end of the plug, said valve means prevent-ing discharge of fluid through said radial passageways from within the easing until the lower end of said casing comes in close proximity to an obstruction in the well bore and the valve means contacts with such obstruction.

6. A device of the character described comprising a cylindrical member adapted to be connected with a string of well casing, a plug of cementitious material connected with said member, said plug having a valve chamber formed interiorly thereof, said plug and cylindrical member being formed with radial passageways extending y from said chamber and communicatiiiigewith the space surrounda ing the exterior o tj id cylindrical member, said plug being formed with a passageway extending from said" chamber through the lower end of said plug, and having an up er passageway extending from the cham er throughthe upper portion of the plug, valve means in said valve chamber unafi'ecting the discharge of fluid through the passageway through the lower end of the plug, said valve means preventingdiseharge of fluid through said-radial passageways from within the easing until the lower end-of said casing comes in close proximity to an obstruction in the well bore, and the valve means contacts with such obstruction and back pressure valve means also disposed within the valve chamber for preventing the back flow of fluid from within the valve chamber upwardly into the casin through said plug. y a r 7 ii device of, the character describedlcomi prising a cylindrical member adapted to be connected with a string of well casing, a plug connected with said member, said plug having a valve chamber formed interiorly thereof, said plug and cylindrical member being formed with radial passageways extending from said chamberand communicat ing with the space surrounding the exterior of said cylindrical member, said plug being formed with a passageway extending from said chamber through the lower end of said plug, valve means preventing the backflow of fluid through all vof said passageways into the well casing above said device, and valve means arranged in said valve chamber for preventing the discharge of fluid through said radial passageways from within the casing until the lower end of the casing is placed in close proximity to an obstruction in the well bore and the valve means contacts with such obstruction.

8. A cementing and washing down device for oil wells which includes a cylindrical member adapted to be connected with a well casing, a cementitious plug cast within said cylindrical member, said plug having a valve chamber formed therein, radial passagewaysemanating from said valve'chamber extending through the sidesof said cylindrical mem her, a valve member arranged in said valve chamber and controlling said passageways and capable of preventing the discharge of fluid through said passageways from within the casing until the lower end of the casing isplaced in close proximity with an. obstrucmen-mum well bore and the valve means contacts withsuch obstruction.

9. Acementing and washing down device for oil wells which includes a cylindrical member adapted to be connected with a well casing, a cemcntitious plug cast within said cylindrical member, said plug having a valve 1 chamber formed therein, radial passageways emanating from said valve chamber extending through the sides of said cylindrical member, a valve member arranged in said valve chamber and controlling said passageways and capable of preventing the discharge of fluid through said passageways from with in the casing, and means connected'with said valve member projecting below the lower end of said plug whereby it will engage an obstruction in the well bore and move said valve member to a position opening said passageways.

CLARENCE E. BURT. 

